Steam-engine



N0. 6|2,969. Patented Oct. 25 1898. J. W. HAWKINS.

STEAM ENGINE.

Applicafion filed Feb. 19, 1898. (No Model.)

2 Sheets- Sheet l.

Patented Oct. 25, I898. J. W. HAWKINS.

STEAM ENGINE.

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

"Mllllm and outlet ports.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HAWKINS, OF MUNFORDVILLE, KENTUCKY.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,969, dated October25, 1898.

Application filed February 19,1898. Serial No. 670,890, (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Munfordville, in the county of Hart and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to steam-engines.

The object of the invention is to provide a steam-engine which shall bemore simple and cheaper than devices of this kind as at presentconstructed.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide means entirely withinthe cylinder whereby the inlet and exhaust of steam into and out of thesame may automatically be controlled without depending upon anyextraneous means.

Further, the objectof the invention is to provide a steam-engine of suchconstruction that the dead-centers incident to the use of the ordinarycrank-shaft for transmitting motion from the piston shall be avoided,and therefore the more smooth and uniform running of the engine insured.

With these objects in view the invention consists of a steam-engineconstructed and provided with the various novel details of constructionand combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure 1 is a side view of an engine constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the engine, the top of the cylinderbeing removed in order to show the interior arrangement of parts. Fig. 3is a plan view of the cylinder with the piston and other parts removed,showing the inlet Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve or cut-off by whichthe steam and exhaust ports are alternately opened and closed.

' position.

Fig. 5 is aperspective view of one of the blocks by which the valve orcut-01f is retained in Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the piston. Fig. 7is a plan view of the means for imparting motion to the grooved cylinderfrom the piston-rod.

In the following description and claims the word cylinder will beapplied to that portion of the present invention which corresponds tothe cylinder of an ordinary engine, although in the present instance thepart is not cylindrical in form.

In the drawings, A represents the cylinder, which is, as shown in thedrawings, made rectangular in cross-section, as I have found that byemploying this form great economy in construction and accuracy of fit ofthe moving parts when formed and arranged as herein described aresecured. The cylinder is made up of six flat plates, those designated bythe letter 0t forming the sides, that marked a the bottom, that marked athe top, and those marked a the ends. At the point of juncture of theparts suitable packing is interposed between the meeting faces and theseveral parts are held together by bolts b. Arranged within the squarebody thus formed is a piston O, which in form and size corre= sponds tothe cavity in the cylinder. The piston is preferably made up of two ormore plates suitably secured together, and in each of the four sides isa groove 0, which receives a plate 0. The plates are free to move in andout in the grooves. Arranged in .each groove and permanently attached tothe piston is a spring 0 which bears against the plate 0 and tends toforce the same outward against the adjacent inner face of the cylinder.It will be clear that as the plates present plane faces to therespective inner faces of the cylinder wear on the plates will bereadily taken up by the springs, and therefore a perfect fit of all theplates against the faces of the cylinder insured.

Connected with the piston is a piston-rod 0, extending from the cylinderand provided at its outer end with a block G which is adapted toreciprocate in groove 0 in a frame 0 arrangedadjacent to the cylinder.Projecting upward from the face of the block 0 is a pin cl, and uponthis pin is arranged a button (Z having a reduced upper surface dprovided with tapering rounded ends. Mounted above the block 0 is acylinder D, having cut in the surface thereof two intersecting spiralgrooves forming a continuous way 61 The cylinder is secured in suitablebearings arranged such a distance above the block 0 as to cause thebutton 02 to enter the grooves in the cylinder. The grooves d for theprincipal part of their length are of a width corresponding to the totalWidth of the button 01 in order that a free movement of the buttonthrough the grooves may be permitted. At the point of intersection themain portion of the grooves are made shallow, leaving a channel 61 ineach of them corresponding in width to the reduced portion of thebutton. This construction insures the smooth passage of the button whenin passing through one groove it crosses another and possibility of thebutton proceeding in the wrong direction is avoided. The describedarrangement and construction of the parts will result in imparting acontinuous rotary movement to the cylinder D as the piston-rodreciprocates, and the use of a crank for imparting revolution to afly-wheel is avoided.

Arranged upon the shaft of the cylinder D is a fly-wheel E, which servesthe usual purpose of equalizing the movement of the parts, as in anordinary engine.

The manner of regulating the inlet and ex haust of steam to and from,the cylinder constructed as described forms an important part of myinvention. In each end of the cylinder, in the lower face thereof, areinletports f and an outlet-port g. The inlet-ports f are connected witha steam-inlet G, and the exhaust-ports are connected with an exhaust H.Arranged in the lower portion of the cylinder is a valve or cut-offformed as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The valve or cut-off iscomposed of two blocks I 1, connected by a rod 2', which has anextension '6, projecting from the opposite end of the cylinder to thatfrom which the piston-rod extends. The blocks I I are of such a widththat when moved longitudinally of the cylinder to the limit allowed inone direction the inlet-ports will be opened at one end and theoutlet-port opened at the other end, with the result that steam will beadmitted on one side of the piston to move the same and steam will beallowed to exhaust on the other side in order to offer no impediment tothe movement of the piston. Each block I is provided on its inner facewith offsets or projections i which correspond in width to the width ofthe ports, and thus when the piston is forced to the extent of itsmovement in one direction it will come in contact with the offsets orprojections on one of the blocks and move it toward the end of thecylinder near which the block is placed, with the result that theinlet-ports at the end of the cylinder to which the piston is moved willbe opened, the inlet-ports at the opposite ends will be closed, and theexhaust-port at the last-n1entioned end will be opened, thus effectingautomatically the reverse movement of the piston. The valve or cut-offis retained in place in the bottom of the cylinder by pieces J, whichare preferably of metal and have their lower faces smooth and bearingupon the blocks I in order that the blocks may be held firmly againstthe bottom of the cylinder and at the same time allowed freereciprocating movement. The pieces J have openings j through them,allowing communication between the interior of the cylinder and theexhaust-ports when in the movement of the piston it is approaching oneof the pieces referred to.

The reversing of the engine may easily be accomplished by shifting thevalve or cut-off by means of the extension 1" to open the inlet-port onthe side of the cylinder,which will give the latter the desireddirection of movement.

The advantages of the construction described will be apparent to oneskilled in the art to which it appertains. In the first place greateconomy of construction is secured. Further, by avoiding the exposedvalve-operating mechanism and arranging the valve in position to beoperated automatically and directly by the piston great simplicity iseffected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A steam-engine cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports at itsrespective ends, a piston, a valve arranged at each end of the cylinder,the valves being connected, and pieces arranged above the valves to holdthem in place and provided with openings for the passage of steam,substantially as described.

2. The combination with the reciprocating piston of a steam-engine of ablock attached to the piston and having a pin projecting therefrom, abutton having a reduced upper portion having tapering rounded ends, acylinder mounted above the block and having two intersecting spiralgrooves in its surface, the main portion of the grooves being shallow attheir point of intersection and provided with a narrow deep channel,substantially as described.

3. A steam-engine cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports at itsrespective ends, a piston, valves or cut-offs for the ports connected toeach other and arranged in the path of movement of the piston, andpieces arranged above the valves to keep them in place and provided withopenings for the passage of steam, substantially as described.

4. Asteam-engine cylinder square in cross section, a piston ofcorresponding form, and having spring-seated projections at its edges,the cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports at its respective ends,valves or cut-ofis for In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature theports connected to each other and arin presence of two Witnesses. rangedin the path of movement of the piston, and pieces arranged above thevalves to 5 keep them in place and provided with open- Witnesses:

ings for the passage of steam, substantially W. H. JONES, as described.w LAWRENCE LIVELY.

JOHN W. HAWKINS.

